ATHLETICS: ONE of Britain’s greatest ever sprinters – John Regis – paid a visit to two Thurrock schools.

Lewisham-born Regis racked up many medals at athletics World and European championships and was part of the 4x100m team which won silver at the Seoul Olympics in 1988 and a bronze in Barcelona in 1992.

And Regis is still the British 200m record-holder, with the time he set in 1994.

Regis dropped into William Edwards School and Stifford Primary Schools in Grays.

With less than 90 days to go to the London Olympics, Thurrock received a massive boost when the inspirational sprinter was brought to Thurrock by one of the borough’s longest serving educationalists, Ralph Henderson, MBE.

Students and staff at both schools heard Regis talked about Olympic values and particularly his friendship with Kriss Akabusi, Roger Back and Derek Redmond.

For the full story of his visit see Friday's THURROCK GAZETTE.